Wendy Bisaro

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, February 28, 2011, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the GNWT develop a reliable, trustworthy and confidential measuring tool to verify the percentage of persons with a disability within the GNWT workforce;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories reassess and, if necessary, revise the staffing priorities assigned to the affirmative action groups identified in Section 101 of the GNWT Human Resources Manual to ensure the priority assigned to persons with disabilities...

Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate that information that the general public does have the opportunity to go to the Department of Justice for assistance. Several other provinces in Canada and the Canadian government itself have implemented, over the last five to six years, legislation which deals with workplace harassment and bullying. I’d like to ask the Minister whether that is something that this government might consider to either change an existing act or to bring in a new act that would deal with harassment and bullying in the workplace.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple of comments here I have to follow up since Mr. Bromley is not here, and express, as he would, his dismay that this budget has increased by 5.3 percent instead of the 3 percent cap that we had presumably agreed on. That said, I am really pleased to hear about the single-window service centres and that they are working, that the GSO, government service officers seem to be a successful move and I look forward to hearing further updates as we get a little further into this project.

I am disappointed, however, there is nothing in the Premier’s remarks, I will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Justice. I’ll give him a little bit of a break from the education venue. Workplace harassment and workplace bullying are something which I think we are becoming more and more aware of. I think it’s existed for a very long time and is all too common. I think we are becoming more aware that employers do not necessarily treat their employees fairly.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice what legislation or regulations currently exist in the NWT to deal with workplace harassment or workplace bullying.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to question here the surplus deficit. After looking at income and expenditures for this fund is a deficit of $232,000 and yet the description at the top indicates that it is supposed to be a breakeven operation. Could I get an explanation as to why this is a deficit and is it a certain point in time only? That is it. Thanks.

Thanks very much for that update. Good to hear. I wanted to also go back to the issue of bandwidth and the demands that are being placed on our system, particularly because of education and health. I’d like to ask the Minister or the DM what the plans are for the department to accommodate our ever-expanding needs for IT. Thank you.

Right on. That is good to hear. With regards to the projects scheduled for this year, Fort Good Hope and Inuvik schools, are they still in the plans to be demolished in 2011-2012? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Guy. I guess I would like to know if there is going to be any sort of an evaluation of the pilot project prior to sort of expanding throughout the rest of the Government of the Northwest Territories systems. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple of comments. I’ll start with the Minister’s statement that we’ve changed how we plan and acquire public infrastructure and made changes to the capital planning process. I think I said last year, and possibly the year before, that I’m really pleased that we’ve made these changes. I look forward to hearing from the Minister in this second year of the new capital planning process whether or not he thinks that it was a beneficial move. I know that was his opinion last year, but we had a hugely busy construction season in 2010-2011 so I’d be interested to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, February 24, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Monday, February 28, 2011;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to February 28, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall...